Vandals target family memorial for Lindsay Ede

Andrew Korner
Journalist
Andrew was born and bred in Ipswich and has been at the QT since 2007. After starting out on the country rounds, he moved onto court reporting and then police and emergency services, which he has now been covering for the last three years. When he is not working on police rounds Andrew is busy sifting through the garbage of famous people, in search of ideas for his weekly column, the Naughty Korner. As there are very few famous people in Ipswich, Andrew is often forced to write his column about...

A FAMILY'S roadside tribute to a man who was killed in an assault at Goodna last year is an ideal candidate for some more reliable foundations.

Vandals have targeted the floral tribute to Lindsay Ede several times over the past few months, angering family members who are still grieving his sudden passing.

Mr Ede died following an allegedly unprovoked assault on June 22 last year. Ariik Mayot has been charged over the assault.

A floral tribute was installed at the location of the alleged attack on Albert St, but Mr Ede's brother, Terry Bishop, said it had been pulled out of the ground and dumped twice.

"The first time it happened we found it lying in the bush," Mr Ede said. "We put it back in and less than 12 hours later it was ripped out again and we can't find it anywhere."

The vandalism occurred just before Christmas, a very tough time for Mr Ede's family given the events that occurred earlier in the year. Relatives visiting from Gympie were distraught with the thoughtless act.

"I think it is disrespectful," Mr Bishop said.

"All of this is still going through the courts so there has been no closure for us yet."

While the family plans to replace the tribute this week, they are in talks with police and local councillor Paul Tully on what action can be taken to prevent future incidents.

Mr Bishop said he'd like to have a permanent memorial concreted into the ground on Albert St.

Ariik Mayot is due to face Ipswich Magistrate's Court again on March 23. He has been charged with unlawful striking causing death.